Support Early Childhood Development in Rural SA

Our little creche is really becoming a safe-haven for the children attending, and is easily the best part of my day. Arriving at Nourish to little children with beaming smiles, RUNNING as fast as their little feet can carry them to come for a hug and a cuddle, and generally to try on my sunglasses. A warm meal twice daily, a boiled egg (from our sustainable chicken farm project ) or fruit before heading home to keep them healthy and strong. And more recently a lovely refurbed playground with fake grass and a lovely jungle gym! 

But what is most special is the SPONSOR a CHILD Program, for some of you, who have committed the 30 USD per month ( on the recurring donation option) -- you are changing a childs life forever... you are allowing children who otherwise might not be able to attend to come to our creche...Your monthly donation helps us to pay the two teachers ( Mavis and Farrence) a monthly financial contribution, your support eables us to buy the food we need, and pay for electricity, and creche resources. For these children, you are giving them a platform to be stimulated and develop, and this will have a ripple effect throughout their whole life. 

I wanted to especially mention two little boys, who have a lovely monthly sponsor... she helped us cover their SPONSOR A CHILD costs the whole of last year. At the end of last year we had a little graduation ceremony, before they head off to Primary School (called Grade R) - we bought them their first little school kit, and school uniform ( without which you cannot attend school in this country) and now they are going to school every day, and coming after school to our Feeding Program, where thanks to the continued support, we are able to feed them a warm healthy meal, and then do reading and homework. These two buys are getting a step up in life, and are bright, and sweet and so interested in learning. 

Thank you to all who supported once off, but also to our really special monthly donors who make changing lives like this, and creating these ripples possible. 

The last few months at Nourish have been a little bit hectic, but we have focused our RISE outreach attention to working with our creches to help them establish ( or in some cases re-establish ) vegetable gardens. Working in partnership with Wildlands Conservation Trust, Benneth has been hosting permacutlture training days, teaching about the benefit of companion planting, mulching and how to save water. 4 creches now have small vegetable gardens implemented, which they are now harvesting from -- Languthelani and Tsogang Basadi already get lots of spinach and beetroot to add to their feeding schemes. Working torwards food security is a big step forward for each of our creches. 

We have also just done assessment visits on our creches, with one of the Nourish Board members Happiness, to measure challenges and successes and see where we can support each creche with their needs. An upcoming visit from Izingane Foundation, will lend mentorship to each creche during a day of site visits. Sometimes support is not money, but rather understanding and solidarity, and this is something we are glad to provide. 

Look forward to updating you after our mentorship days!